Raindancer - smart irrigation management
Raindancer, developed by IT-Direkt Business Technologies GmbH in Berlin, provides a cloud-based GPS irrigation fleet management platform with LTE-M/NB-IoT hardware, serving over 3,000 agricultural operations across 40+ countries through a 150+ dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Raindancer - smart irrigation management does
Raindancer, a product of IT-Direkt Business Technologies GmbH (founded 2001 in Berlin, Germany), is a smart irrigation fleet management platform launched in 2015 after initial concept work beginning in 2011. The system combines hardware modules — solar-powered GPS receivers and pressure sensors mounted on hose reel and pivot irrigation machines, plus a Beacon retrofit device for pump control — with a cloud-based portal and a free iOS/Android companion app. Communication relies on LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular networks, enabling real-time position, pressure, and status telemetry; the platform supports remote start/stop, automatic sector adjustment, Auto Speed calculation, Variable Rate Irrigation, and PowerManager (the company's electricity price-aware scheduling feature). Raindancer is compatible with 25 irrigation equipment brands and integrates with agronomic data providers (KARL Irrigation, Vista, Weenat) and pump systems (Euromacchine/COMAP, OCMIS RAIN CONTROL 5).
Raindancer - smart irrigation management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Raindancer - smart irrigation management
- Legal name
- IT-Direkt Business Technologies GmbH
- Website
- https://raindancer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Raindancer, developed by IT-Direkt Business Technologies GmbH in Berlin, provides a cloud-based GPS irrigation fleet management platform with LTE-M/NB-IoT hardware, serving over 3,000 agricultural operations across 40+ countries through a 150+ dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Raindancer - smart irrigation management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Irrigation Management Software
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514)
- SIC
- Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Irrigation Control & Automation (Controllers, Valves, Sensors, IoT) (AFAAACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Monitoring, Metering & Flow Measurement (Meters, Pressure/Flow Gauges, Telemetry) (AFAAACAK), Irrigation Automation & Controllers (Timers, Solenoids, Control Panels) (AFABAHAI)
Keywords
Where Raindancer - smart irrigation management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Raindancer - smart irrigation management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Subscription (Cloud Portal): Cloud-based server-client technology with online portal access. All data transmitted and stored securely on servers. Users granted comprehensive and easy-to-use online portal access.
- Hardware Sales (GPS Module, Beacon): Sale of GPS modules with solar panel and pressure sensors, plus Beacon devices for pump control. Hardware enables the software functionality.
- Smartphone App: Completely free smartphone app for irrigation monitoring and control, bundled with hardware/software subscription.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Raindancer - smart irrigation management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Raindancer provides a cloud-based GPS irrigation fleet management system that combines solar-powered GPS hardware modules (mounted on irrigation machines) with LTE-M/NB-IoT-enabled pump controllers (Beacon), a smartphone app, and a web portal for real-time monitoring, remote control, and automation of irrigation equipment. The system supports hose reel, pivot, and linear irrigation machines across 25+ manufacturer brands, enabling farmers to automate sector adjustment, pump control, variable rate irrigation, and electricity price-aware scheduling.
Product overview
Raindancer is a smart irrigation fleet management system developed by IT-Direkt Business Technologies GmbH (Berlin, Germany). The product portfolio consists of a core platform with modular hardware and software components. The central system comprises the Raindancer GPS Module (hardware attached to irrigation machines for position/pressure monitoring), the Raindancer App (smartphone application for iOS/Android), and the Raindancer Portal (cloud-based web platform). Add-on modules include the Raindancer Beacon (pump control device), Raindancer Sector Control (automatic sector adjustment), and Raindancer Pivot Control (for pivot irrigation systems). Key software features include Auto Speed (automatic speed calculation), Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI - site-specific application), PowerManager (electricity price-aware control), and Raindancer Reporting (data analysis). The system supports 25 compatible brands and is used by over 3,000 agricultural operations across 40+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Raindancer Beacon: Smart pump control device that enables pump communication over the internet for remote monitoring and control.
- Raindancer Pivot Control
- Raindancer PowerManager
Products and services
- Raindancer GPS Module Hardware module that attaches to irrigation gun carriage and transmits GPS position, pressure, and operational data to the Raindancer software at regular intervals. Features solar panel with 4,000 mAh battery, polycarbonate casing, and IP-rated splash/dust resistance. Compatible with hose reel, pivot, and linear irrigation machines across 25+ brands.
- Raindancer App Smartphone application for iOS and Android providing real-time irrigation monitoring and control. Displays machine status, water pressure, estimated completion times. Includes push notifications for faults, remote control capabilities, and access to all irrigation data.
- Raindancer Portal Cloud-based web platform for comprehensive irrigation fleet management. Provides overview of current deployment situation, operational status, water pressure, and estimated end times. Includes team management, relocation planning, and detailed reporting dashboards with API access and Excel export.
- Raindancer Beacon (Pump Control) Retrofit pump control device enabling pump communication over internet via mobile networks (LTE-M/NB-IoT) or existing LAN. Allows remote pump monitoring (flow rate, meter reading, power, pressure), remote start/stop/pressure adjustment, and automatic pressure demand control. Supports shared network operation.
- Raindancer Sector Control Automatic irrigation sector adjustment system that sets angles based on field shape or obstacles. Includes multiple programs (Normal, End irrigation, Obstacles, Fasterhold) for curved/angled fields, double irrigation prevention, and automatic speed adjustment for narrowed runs.
- Raindancer Pivot Control Smart irrigation control extension for older pivot irrigation systems, enabling hose reels and pivot systems from different manufacturers to be managed together in a single app, creating a centralized platform for entire irrigation operations.
- Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) Site-specific precision irrigation enabling differentiated water application per sub-area. Each zone receives exactly the amount of water needed based on soil, crop, and requirement data. Avoids over- or under-watering of individual sections.
- PowerManager (Electricity Price-Aware Irrigation) Electricity price-aware smart irrigation control system that automatically adjusts irrigation schedules based on live electricity prices. Identifies low-cost tariff periods and pauses irrigation during peak prices, reducing energy costs without affecting crop water supply.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10-20% water consumption reduction
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Raindancer - smart irrigation management
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Raindancer - smart irrigation management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature9 records
Raindancer - smart irrigation management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- European Irrigation Association (EIA)minorRaindancer is a member of the European Irrigation Association, a network of leading companies and organizations dedicated to advancing irrigation across Europe. EIA promotes sustainable water management, efficient irrigation practices, and industry collaboration. Membership enables knowledge exchange and positioning as a committed industry participant.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Raindancer - smart irrigation management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- AquaSpy: AquaSpy produces soil moisture and salinity sensors integrated with irrigation management software. Comparable to Raindancer's GPS-based monitoring approach, with focus on sensor-driven rather than GPS-driven irrigation intelligence.
- Arable: Arable offers weather and crop intelligence with irrigation decision support; comparable to Raindancer's data integration with Weenat and overall smart irrigation data layer. A peer in the data-driven irrigation decisioning category.
- Semios: Semios is a precision agriculture IoT platform combining weather, soil, and irrigation data for tree crops and specialty agriculture. Overlaps with Raindancer in IoT-driven irrigation management and ag-data analytics.
Broad incumbents
- Lindsay Corporation: Lindsay (parent of Zimmatic and FieldNET) is a major irrigation equipment manufacturer that bundles smart control software with its pivot systems. As a Raindancer partner (Perrot by Lindsay is among 25 compatible brands), it represents both a partner and a competitive incumbent.
- Valmont Industries: Valmont (Valley Irrigation) is the global leader in center-pivot irrigation and offers its own smart control platform. Competes broadly with Raindancer in the smart irrigation segment, particularly with pivot irrigation systems where Raindancer recently expanded via Pivot Control.
- Netafim: Netafim is a global leader in drip and precision irrigation, offering digital farming tools that overlap with Raindancer's Variable Rate Irrigation offering. A broad incumbent in precision irrigation with strong international distribution.
- Rivulis Irrigation: Rivulis (formerly Rivulis Plastro) is a major micro and drip irrigation manufacturer with growing digital farming capabilities. Operates in the same precision irrigation sector with comparable farming customer base.
- Trimble Agriculture: Trimble provides GPS-guided precision agriculture software, hardware, and irrigation management. A broader incumbent with overlapping GPS positioning expertise and similar precision agriculture customer base.
Direct peers
- Tule Technologies: Tule offers precision irrigation decision-support mainly for specialty crops (almonds, wine grapes, etc.), competing directly with Raindancer's Variable Rate Irrigation and AI-driven optimization features in the smart irrigation category.
- CropX: CropX provides soil-sensor-driven smart irrigation and farm management software, directly competing with Raindancer in the precision agriculture space. Both serve farmers seeking data-driven irrigation optimization, with overlapping go-to-market in Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Raindancer - smart irrigation management social profiles
Digital presenceRaindancer - smart irrigation management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Raindancer - smart irrigation management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Raindancer - smart irrigation management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Raindancer - smart irrigation management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Raindancer - smart irrigation management
What does Raindancer - smart irrigation management do?
Raindancer provides a cloud-based GPS irrigation fleet management system that combines solar-powered GPS hardware modules (mounted on irrigation machines) with LTE-M/NB-IoT-enabled pump controllers (Beacon), a smartphone app, and a web portal for real-time monitoring, remote control, and automation of irrigation equipment. The system supports hose reel, pivot, and linear irrigation machines across 25+ manufacturer brands, enabling farmers to automate sector adjustment, pump control, variable rate irrigation, and electricity price-aware scheduling.
Is Raindancer - smart irrigation management a public or private company?
Raindancer - smart irrigation management is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Raindancer - smart irrigation management founded?
Raindancer - smart irrigation management was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Raindancer - smart irrigation management based?
Raindancer - smart irrigation management is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Raindancer - smart irrigation management make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Subscription (Cloud Portal) is the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales (GPS Module, Beacon) and smartphone App.
Who are Raindancer - smart irrigation management's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are AquaSpy, Arable and Semios. Broad incumbents are Lindsay Corporation, Valmont Industries, Netafim, Rivulis Irrigation and Trimble Agriculture. Direct peers are Tule Technologies and CropX.
Does Raindancer - smart irrigation management have an API?
Yes. The Raindancer system supports API access for data export. Data can be exported to MS Excel and processed there. The portal supports API integration for external third-party interface access credentials (username, password, machine numbers) for automated authentication with machine interfaces. Additionally, external software data can be integrated into Raindancer for variable rate irrigation. The portal's privacy statement specifically mentions Zugangsdaten (access credentials) for external APIs used for machine control and monitoring.
What industry is Raindancer - smart irrigation management in?
Raindancer - smart irrigation management's product category is Agricultural Irrigation Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAAACAF, Irrigation Control & Automation (Controllers, Valves, Sensors, IoT), with a secondary code of AFAAACAK, Monitoring, Metering & Flow Measurement (Meters, Pressure/Flow Gauges, Telemetry). Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 3523.